78 



ANATOMY FOR NURSES 



[Chap. V 



^^ tuberosity 



is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. It is small, flat, tri- 

 angular in shape, and placed in front of the knee-joint, which 

 it serves to protect. It articulates with the two condyles of the 

 femur, and is separated from the skin by a bursa. (See page 131.) 

 Tibia, or shin bone. — Is situated at the front and inner side 

 of the leg. The upper extremity is large, and expanded into two 

 lateral eminences with concave surfaces, which receive the con- 

 dyles of the femur. The lower extremity is much smaller than the 



upper ; it is prolonged down- 

 wards on its inner side into a 

 strong process, the medial (or 

 inner) malleolus. It articu- 

 lates with the fibula and one 

 of the bones of the ankle. (In 

 the male, its direction is verti- 

 cal and parallel with the bone 

 of the opposite side; but in 

 the female it has a slight 

 oblicpie direction outwards, to 

 compensate for the oblique di- 

 rection of the femur inwards.) 

 Fibula, or calf bone. — Is 

 situated at the outer side of 

 the leg. It is the smaller of 

 the two bones, and, in propor- 

 tion to its length, the most 

 slender of all the long bones ; 

 it is placed nearly parallel with 

 the tibia. The upper ex- 

 tremity consists of an irregu- 

 lar quadrate head by means of 

 which it articulates with the 

 tibia. The lower extremity is prolonged downwards into a pointed 

 process, the lateral (or external) malleolus, which lies just beneath 

 the skin. It articulates with the tibia and one of the bones of the 

 ankle. 



Tarsus. — The tarsus is composed of seven small bones united 

 by ligaments, but the tarsal bones differ from the carpal in being 

 larger and more irregularly shaped. The largest and strongest 



Outer 

 malleolus 



Fl<i. 5S. 



Inner 

 in:iilcolus 



The Bones of the Rk.ht Leg. 

 (Morrow.) 



